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MEDIA ADVISORY — MEDIA ADVISORY — MEDIA ADVISORY

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2008
Focus on Connecting Persons with Disabilities

Global celebration in Cairo during ITU TELECOM AFRICA, 15 May 2008

ACCREDIT NOW

Geneva, 15 April 2008
What: World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2008 global ceremony
Theme: Connecting Persons with Disabilities
When: 15 May 2008, 13:00 to 15:00. See Programme here.
Where: Cairo, Egypt (Cheops Auditorium, CICC): Venue of ITU TELECOM AFRICA
Why:
  • Mark the foundation of ITU on 17 May 1865
  • Focus attention on promoting ICT opportunities for persons with disabilities. See www.itu.int/accessibility/ 
  • Presentation of ITU World Information Society Award 2008
  • Follow-up of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
Who:
  • High-level representatives from governments, international
  • organizations, private sector and civil society
    •
  • ITU World Information Society Award 2008 laureates
  • Participants and visitors at ITU TELECOM AFRICA

World Telecommunication and Information Society Day marks the establishment of the International Telecommunication Union on 17 May, 1865.

Since the conclusion of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in November 2005, the World Day has been marked by a high-profile ceremony that includes the presentation of the ITU World Telecommunication and Information Society Award to distinguished laureates for their contribution towards building an inclusive and more equitable Information Society. This year, the awards will focus on eminent personalities for their work in providing ICT opportunities for persons with disabilities, the theme of the celebrations for 2008. Past laureates have included Professor Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank and President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal.

Exceptionally this year, the global ceremony of the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day will be held in Cairo, Egypt at the Cairo International Convention and Exhibition Centre (CICC) in conjunction with ITU TELECOM AFRICA, the regional ICT showcase and Forum. The ceremony will be webcast live directly from the venue; more information click here.

Following the post-WSIS tradition of the past two years, an extensive programme of events centred on the implementation of WSIS objectives will be held in Geneva, Switzerland, 13−23 May 2008.

The full programme of the celebrations and WSIS cluster of events is available here.

While the global ceremony will be held in Cairo, several countries, ITU Members and Associates will be holding celebrations around the world.
 

Information for Press:

WTISD ceremony in Cairo, 15 May 2008

Accreditation for ITU TELECOM AFRICA will be valid for the World Telecommunication and Information Society Day (WTISD) ceremony. Press wanting to attend WTISD should accredit with ITU TELECOM AFRICA here.

WSIS Cluster of Events in Geneva, 13−23 May 2008

Press who would like to cover the events on WSIS implementation at ITU, accredit here. Please carefully read the procedures and complete the Media Accreditation Form. Badges will be available at the ITU Montbrillant building, Place des Nations, Geneva from 12 May 2008.

For further information, please contact:
Sanjay Acharya
Chief, Media Relations and Public Information
ITU
Tel: +41 22 730 5046
Mobile: +41 79 249 4861
E-mail		  

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Updated : 2008-04-15